RIP

Sir David Frost (1939-2013). A torrent of comment and praise on the passing of David Frost at 74, the man who re-invented television, as some say. It was the most amazing career - journalist, comedian, writer, media personality and daytime TV game show host; the man who one could say the Concorde jet was invented for, he was travelling so much on it. He was only 23 when he was fronting THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS, and yes there he is in the 1963 film THE VIPs interviewing the stars at London Airport. His interviews were legendary, from fraudster Savundra to Richard Nixon in 1977.  Ironically he died at sea, on the Queen Elizabeth, where he was due to make a speech, just as a new version of his hit show THROUGH THE KEYHOLE began here.

Elmore Leonard (1925-2013) American novelist and screenwriter, among the most read and admired of his time. Not only those smart tales like GET SHORTY but also '50s westerns like 3.10 TO YUMA and HOMBRE, and those later admired films JACKIE BROWN, OUT OF SIGHT and more.

Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) - Irish poet, playwright, translator and lecturer, and the recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. His works as listed on Wikipedia are certainly comprehensive ... we will be discovering more of them.

David Jacobs (1926-2013) - Another broadcaster of urbane charm, following on from David Frost and Alan Whicker. Jacobs found fame with JUKE BOX JURY, ANY QUESTIONS? In broadcasting for seven decades, he was one of the original Radio and TV disk jockeys.